Special Education Laws

Public Law 94-142

Public Law 94-142, the Education for Handicapped Children Act of 1975, was the federal law which guaranteed every child with a disability the right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.

This law also provided that each child:

• Is guaranteed a culturally unbiased, valid assessment in all areas of the suspected disability;

• Is to have an individualized education program designed to meet his/her unique needs;

• Is guaranteed specific procedures to insure his/her rights and those of their parents (due process procedures).

Public Law 94-142 states that all children with disabilities need and have the right to an education to become as self sufficient and productive as possible in adult society, and that children with disabilities should be educated to the maximum extent possible with non-disabled students.  This is what’s known as the Least Restrictive Environment or LRE.

In 1990 the law was re-authorized as Public Law 101-476 by President Bush and was re-named the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  In 1997, President Clinton reauthorized the law, with some changes.